Pakistan summons Afghan envoy after 15 officers killed in Bannu suicide attack
Pakistan on Monday issued a formal demarche to Afghanistan and summoned the Afghan Chargé d'Affaires following a devastating suicide attack in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, that killed at least 15 police personnel. The Foreign Office held Kabul accountable for allowing militant networks to operate from Afghan soil, marking one of the sharpest diplomatic rebukes Pakistan has issued to Afghanistan in recent months.
The attack, targeting law enforcement in Bannu district, underscores the persistent threat posed by cross-border terrorism along Pakistan's western frontier. Security officials confirmed the suicide bomber struck a police installation, causing significant casualties among personnel deployed in the region.
Islamabad's decision to summon the Afghan envoy signals a significant escalation in diplomatic pressure on the Taliban-led government in Kabul. Pakistan has repeatedly demanded that Afghan authorities dismantle sanctuaries used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and affiliated groups operating from Afghan territory.
The demarche follows a pattern of intensifying Pakistani frustration with Kabul's perceived inaction against militant infrastructure. Senior foreign ministry officials conveyed Pakistan's strong protest and demanded immediate action to prevent future cross-border attacks. The incident will likely further strain already fraught Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
Similar Stories
Background and related coverage on this story.
Iran Strikes Kuwait Airport With Drones and Missiles
Iran launched a drone and missile attack targeting Kuwait's main international airport, the Kuwaiti state news agency reported on Wednesday, marking a dramatic and dangerous escalation of hostilities in the Gulf region. The strike represents a direct attack on the sovereign territory and civilian infrastructure of a Gulf Cooperation Council member state.
Tehran strikes US air base after American attacks on Iranian military sites
Iran launched a retaliatory strike against a United States air base on Monday after American forces attacked several Iranian military installations, marking a dramatic and dangerous escalation in tensions between the two nations. The exchange of strikes represents the most direct military confrontation between Washington and Tehran in years, raising fears of a broader regional conflict across the already volatile Middle East.
US Strikes Iranian Military Sites, Tehran Retaliates With Air Base Attack
The United States has confirmed it conducted strikes against Iranian military installations, in what marks one of the most significant direct military confrontations between the two countries in recent decades. Washington said the strikes targeted Iranian military sites, though full details of the scale, location, and objectives of the operation remained under official review at the time of reporting.
US Strikes Iran; Tehran Retaliates Against American Airbase
The United States has carried out fresh military strikes against Iran, triggering an immediate retaliatory attack by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on an American military base in the Gulf region. The escalation comes after President Donald Trump publicly dismissed reports of a potential deal that would have kept the Strait of Hormuz open, removing a diplomatic off-ramp that analysts had considered a last-ditch mechanism to contain hostilities.
Russian Drone and Missile Assault on Ukraine Kills Ten
Russia launched a major combined drone and missile attack on Ukraine, killing at least ten people and wounding dozens more in one of the heaviest bombardments in recent weeks. Ukrainian emergency services reported strikes across multiple regions, with residential areas and infrastructure among the targets hit.
US Military Strikes Iran in Self-Defence Operations Over Weekend
The United States military carried out strikes against Iran over the weekend, characterising the operations as self-defence actions in response to what Washington described as provocations by Iranian forces or proxies. The strikes represent a significant escalation in the already volatile US-Iran confrontation and risk triggering a broader regional conflagration across the Middle East.